Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy: November 1-6, 2025

The Thessaloniki IFF, in collaboration with the Locarno Film Festival, launched the Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy in Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean region in 2016. The tenth edition is taking place physically (November 1-6, 2025) in the context of the TIFF66 AGORA. The Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy is a tailor-made training program created to help young professionals in the cinema industry, i.e. sales agents, distributors and new media professionals, to expand their experience and networking in the fields of international sales, marketing, distribution and programming. Each year up to 8 young film professionals will participate in the Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy. In this five-day program, top film professionals will offer their expertise to the 8 participants through discussions, case study presentations and teamwork.

The Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy is part of the Locarno Industry Academy network, which includes several academies in Latin America, New York, Beirut, South Africa, South Asia and of course Switzerland.

A. What does the Industry Academy offer to its participants?

• Daily sessions with high-profile and experienced professionals and experts including sales agents, distributors, exhibitors, heads of marketing departments, festival programmers and producers.
• Case study presentations and informal discussions during which participants can directly interact and exchange opinions/visions with their colleagues and guest speakers.
• Group sessions to encourage team work on a specific project.
• Access to a number of professional events, particularly in the context of the industry event AGORA (October 31 - November 8), to gain a better overview of market activities and an understanding of the challenges faced by European and international key players in the film industry.
• Access to festival screenings as well as industry work-in-progress screenings.
• Unique opportunities to broaden their range of professional contacts thanks to specific networking activities with AGORA industry attendees.

B. Am I the right candidate for the Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy?

• The Industry Academy in Thessaloniki is open to international participants.
• Those enrolled must attend the full 5-day program that runs between November 1-6, 2025.
• Age from 18 to 35.
• Fluent in English - The official language of the Academy is English. You will need it to interact with all the other Academy participants and guests.
• Proven work experience in the film industry in the following fields: traditional/online distribution, exhibition, international sales, marketing, festival programming as well as film funds, film commissions or industry events. Applicants might have been recently hired by a company, or may currently be working on an internship within one of the fields described above.
• Passionate about cinema as well as other art forms and, at the same time, keen to join the other participants in exploring new ways of promoting and disseminating cinema.
• Excellent in working as part of a group / team - looking at each and every encounter with colleagues as a new opportunity in both human and professional terms.
• Looking to develop your career through meeting established professionals in European and world cinema industries.
• Ready to have a proactive role in group sessions, with pertinent, stimulating and provocative questions and contributions.
• Wish to expand your network of contacts with like-minded people that may share similar or different approaches towards working in the film industry.
• We remind you that the Industry Academy is not for producers or directors seeking to understand the world of film distribution, but rather it is a program designed for professionals who work directly in the field of circulation and distribution of films.

C. The Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy offers:

• Accommodation and breakfast for 5 nights in a Hostel / Hotel
• AGORA accreditation entitling participants to attend all Festival screenings and industry activities.
• Official Festival and AGORA materials
• Invitation to the AGORA Awards and party
• One welcome dinner and three industry lunches
• Inclusion in the Launchpad initiative

D. Key Dates:

• Open Call: July 14, 2025
• Application Deadline: August 18, 2025
• Notification Date (by email): Early September 2025
• Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy: November 1-6, 2025

E. Application Materials:

• Online Application Form
• Cover Letter (max 2 pages)
• CV
• Photograph of the candidate (high resolution). We will use this as your catalogue picture in case of selection.

> TIFF66 Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy Application - Available July 14, 2025.
Submission Deadline: August 18, 2025

For inquiries please contact: Konstantinos Aivaliotis, Regional Manager - Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy, Locarno Film Festival, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.